How did you become a designer/artist?

Well, I have always been a naturally creative person. In college, I was fortunate enough to study video art with the acclaimed video artist Van McElwee. We created some of the very first interactive digital video art work; we were not only some of the first people to use this technology, but we also pushed the limits of using it in an expressive way. It was very inspiring.

I was also fortunate enough to become friends with photographer and Xerox artist Mark Skinner. Mark introduced me to “mail art”, which was essentially a group of artists around the country who would make Xerox art and then mail elaborate constructions to each other. My first reaction to this was, “how stupid” – but then I thought, hey, I can do this too! And so I did. I remember going to Mark’s house and sitting around on his living room floor doing bong hits and then cutting up and arranging the Xeroxes we’d made earlier that day. I loved it, and it was then that I realized I was developing an eye for particular imagery and subjects. I also wanted to go beyond working merely in the ephemeral “mail art” mode, and began creating larger pieces. The first series of these pieces were exhibited in the War Art Symposium in St. Louis in 1991, and I have been creating Xerox art of some type or another ever since.

Over the years, however, I had gradually started incorporating paint into this work. Eventually, painting itself started to dominate my work, and I began creating large-scale photo-realistic acrylics. In many ways, I felt limited by Xerox art – despite the fact that it allows me to create some of my most intimate work – and I wanted to explore imagery on a scale that wasn’t possible with Xerox. I was also attracted to the work itself; photo-realism takes patience and an eye for detail, and I find that very meditative.

What are you doing now?

I’m working on a couple of small Xerox pieces. I’m also finishing up an acrylic called “Terrorist Attacks” that is a black and white photo of two anonymous government men in front of the “Commission on Terrorist Attacks” banner. This painting would have been finished a long time ago, but I’ve been experimenting with introducing some color into it, and I can’t seem to make my mind up. You can actually check in and see this painting and anything else I’m currently working on at any time in the “right now” section of my Web site: www.ljlindhurst.com/rightnow.html

What are your plans for the future?

I have some pretty ambitious goals for the future, some of which include becoming the first hybrid Oprah/Martha Stewart (sans prison)/Bill Gates. Do you think I'm setting myself up for disaster? Realistically, I plan to expand into a complete branding firm.

What American artist inspires you most?

James Rosenquist is my hero! I want to paint just like him. I also greatly admire the graphic work of Barbra Kruger. And I know he’s not an American, but I would be greatly remiss if I didn’t mention Gerhardt Richter. Gerhardt Richter is the god of photo-realism.

What unlocks your creativity?

Music music music. I listen to a LOT of music when I’m working, and I find it very inspirational. Getting an iPod has changed my life when it comes to this, because I have my entire record collection literally at my fingertips.